Barrel lock with push tab

ABSTRACT

A barrel lock is provided with a hollow barrel section and a spring-biased clasp section. The clasp section has a flattened push tab that facilitates engagement and disengagement of the clasp section with the barrel section. The barrel section is further provided with a catch and the clasp section is farther provided with a protrusion, the catch being adapted to engage the protrusion and secure the barrel and clasp sections together.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/210,426, filed Jun. 8, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to jewelry clasps in general, and more particularly, to a so-called barrel lock with an improved push tab that is easier to grasp and manipulate than prior art barrel locks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The prior art barrel lock has been around for ages, and consists of a hollow cylindrical barrel member and a spring-biased clasp member. The clasp member is provided with a tab section that must be pressed inwardly in order to release the biased engagement of the clasp member with the barrel, for withdrawal of the clasp member from the barrel member.

[0004] In prior art barrel locks, the tab section is fairly small and narrow, usually leaving an impression or temporary indentation upon one's finger as a result of pressing downwardly thereupon. This can be painful, and possibly deter use and enjoyment of the jewelry item employing such clasp. In certain situations, a user may have to use his or her nail to manipulate the clasp, which undoubtedly might result in broken nails and increased frustration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A barrel lock is provided with a hollow barrel section and a spring-biased clasp section. The clasp section has a flattened push tab that facilitates engagement and disengagement of the clasp section with the barrel section. The barrel section is further provided with a catch and the clasp section is further provided with a protrusion, the catch being adapted to engage the protrusion to prevent the unintentional disengagement of the barrel and clasp sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the barrel lock of the invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the assembled barrel lock of the invention.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a left side view of the barrel lock of FIG. 2.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a rear edge view of the barrel lock of FIG. 2.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a front edge view of the barrel lock of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts. shown in FIGS. 1-5, the barrel lock 10 of the present invention is provided with a flattened push tab to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the clasp section 15 with the barrel section 20. The hollow cylindrical barrel member of the invention has a first end 25 provided with a loop 30 and adapted for connection to a jewelry chain (not shown), and a second end face 35 adapted to receive and temporarily secure the spring-biased clasp member 15 of the invention within the barrel member 20. The clasp member 15 of the invention is preferably in the form a “V”-shaped leaf spring having a pair of planar members 40 and 45 spring-biased at their junction 50 (with the junction defined as the point of the “V”). The first planar member 40 is provided with a loop 55 for connection to a jewelry chain (not shown), while the second planar member 45 is provided with a tab section 58 extending perpendicularly outwardly from such member 45. The tab section 58 of the invention terminates in an elongated flattened portion 60.

[0012] As shown more particularly in FIG. 1, the barrel member 20 is provided with a “T”-shaped slot 65 on its second engagement face 35, with the vertical portion 70 of the “T” of such slot 65 extending partially down the side of the barrel member. The slot 65 on the engagement face 35 is dimensioned to receive the clasp member 15 from the junction 50 of the planar members 40 and 45 first. As the clasp member 15 is slid in to the barrel member 20, the tab section 58 proceeds along the slot 70 provided on the side of the barrel member 20. As the clasp member 15 enters deeper into the barrel member 20, the biasing force of the planar members 40 and 45 against the slot 65 on the engagement face 35 of the barrel member 20 increases, until finally the planar member 45 passes beyond the slot 65 and into the barrel member 20 causing the clasp member 15 to bias open and lock into the barrel member 20. The positioning of the planar member 45 against the interior surface of the engagement face 35 prevents a user from withdrawing the clasp 15 from the barrel 20 by pulling alone. As an added security measure, a separate catch 75 pivotally attached to the barrel member 20 is frictionally engaged with a pin 80 on the clasp member 15 to prevent inadvertent, rearward separation of the clasp member 15 from the barrel member 20.

[0013] In order to disengage the clasp member 15 from the barrel member 20, first the catch 75 has to be removed from the pin 80 on the clasp member 15. Then the flattened portion 60 of the tab member 58 is pressed inwardly, which causes a compression of the planar members 40 and 45 and an alignment of both planar members 40 and 45 with the slot 65 on the engagement face 35 of the barrel member 20. Once both members 40 and 45 are aligned with the slot 65, they may be withdrawn together through the slot 65, enabling the clasp member 15 to be completely withdrawn from the barrel member 20 through such slot 65. The flattened portion 60 of the tab member 58 facilitates the compression of the clasp member 15 and the removal of the clasp member 15 from the barrel member 20.

[0014] The barrel member 20 can be any shape, size, or configuration, as long as it is capable of receiving and holding the clasp member within. The outside of the barrel can have a variety of designs, textures and ornamental configurations. The flattened portion 60 on the tab section 58 can also have a variety of ornamental configurations, and be any shape or size as long as it is capable of distributing finger pressure during compression.

[0015] While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A jewelry clasp comprising: a) an insertion member having first and second planar members and a junction formed therebetween, said planar members being movable with respect to each other from a compressed position, where said planar members are positioned in a parallel, overlapping arrangement, to an open position, wherein one planar member is positioned at an angle with respect to each other, said planar members being spring-biased at said junction toward said open position, b) said first planar member having a longitudinal edge and a spherical protrusion formed on said longitudinal edge, c) said second planar member having a tab section extending outwardly and perpendicularly from said second planar member and terminating in a third planar member that is disposed parallel to said second planar member, and d) a cylindrical receiving member adapted to receive and engage said insertion member, e) said receiving member having an interior, an engagement face, a side wall and a receiving slot, said slot having a first portion extending along a diameter of said engagement face, a second portion extending perpendicularly from said first portion along a radius of said engagement and continuing along a longitudinal edge of said side wall, f) said slot first portion being dimensioned for passage of said first and second planar members therethrough while said planar members are in the compressed position, said interior being dimensioned to receive only part of said first planar member and the entirety of said second planar member therein, and said slot second portion being dimensioned for passage of said tab section therealong, g) said engagement face being adapted to retain said second planar member within said interior, to complete the interengagement of said insertion and receiving members, after passage of said second planar member through said first slot portion, h) wherein said third planar section is elongated to hide from view substantially all of said second slot portion extending along said side wall while said insertion member is engaged with said receiving member.
 2. A jewelry clasp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving member further comprises a safety catch that is adapted to engage said protrusion when said insertion and receiving members are engaged, to prevent inadvertent separation of said insertion and receiving members. 